A new National Gardening Week aims to get Brits sowing, hoeing and mowing in 2012. Set to take place on 16th to 22nd April, the initiative was devised by the Royal Horticultural Society.

So come on over to Fron Goch over that week with any of your gardening questions, ideas or inspirations. We will be more than happy to talk them through with you and help you whether your a first time gardener struggling with your tomato plants or competent green fingered fiend simply wanting some advice to expand your knowledge.

Monday, 2 April 2012

Go Green in the Garden

It doesn't have to be expensive and difficult to
go green in your garden. Have a look at some of the ideas we have come up with
to encourage wild life into your garden while creating a safe heavan to
enjoy.

CompostingBy recycling your fruit & vegetable
peelings, grass cuttings and the rest of your garden waste you can produce
well-rotten garden compost, which can be used as a soil improver to enhance
plant growth - great on a vegetable patch.

Water
ConservationSimply Use Less!Reducing our water usage is
perhaps one of the biggest concerns for gardeners today. There are two ways in
which you can do this – firstly you can simply use less. Many experts believe
that if you water less often you encourage both your plants and your lawn to
take deeper roots, therefore making them sturdier and more drought resistant.
When you do water them, ensure that it is in the evening – this way the water
will take longer to evaporate, resulting in less water being required over the
long run.

Pots and hanging baskets are renowned for being extremely
thirsty, but you can slow down evaporation by lining them with plastic bags.
Meanwhile, spread mulch over your borders to conserve water.

It’s also
time to ditch the sprinkler. Sprinklers waste a phenomenal amount of water,
especially when they throw the water high, as so much is lost through
evaporation. Hosepipes themselves use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour –
meaning that it can be expensive as well as wasteful.

Water
ButtsWater Butts are an essential for your garden. Almost 10,000
average litres of rainwater falls on our house roofs each year so by collecting
it in a water butt, you have a ready source of water that can help keep your
garden looking lush and green.

A water butt can be connected to a down
pipe so that it collects rainwater from your gutters. If you are using a down
pipe, you will also need an overflow pipe or a rain diverter to redirect water
into the butt. Once it’s full, water flows down the drainpipe.A gutter
filter will also keep out unwanted debris.

Bird Bath & Wildlife
AttractionsSimply adding a bird bath, feeder or installing a pond
attracts all sorts of wildlife into your garden. You may be lucky enough to find
that the birds and frogs get rid of unwanted slugs and snails. Having a
pesticide-free garden may also attract species such as
hedgehogs.

Conserve Power - Use Solar LightingOutdoor lights
don’t take energy-saving light bulbs however, modern solar lights which are
specifically designed for outdoor use are available in abundance, the energy
from the sun is free so illuminating your garden is easy and energy
efficient.

Healthy Living, Great ExerciseGardening itself
is a healthy activity so get the rake out! If you only have a small lawn,
consider reverting to a manual lawnmower – the effect is just as
good.

Grow Your OwnHave a go at growing your own herbs &
vegetables. Anything that you can harvest from your own garden not only gives
you a huge sense of satisfaction but also means you have travelled zero miles to
get on your plate. At Fron Goch we have all the advice and equiptment you need
to start growing.